Anonymous
11/21/2025 19:50
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
What do you mean by elite?
If global super rich, it's English first and foremost. Then probably French as so many spend time in rich people hangouts in France and the French speaking Alps.
As for Mandarin? Lol! You can tell whoever mentioned Mandarin isn't "elite". It's what anxious UMC parents think. Hint: the elites don't go to China if they can help it. And there's no point either, you get translators when needed.
If global super rich, it's English first and foremost. Then probably French as so many spend time in rich people hangouts in France and the French speaking Alps.
As for Mandarin? Lol! You can tell whoever mentioned Mandarin isn't "elite". It's what anxious UMC parents think. Hint: the elites don't go to China if they can help it. And there's no point either, you get translators when needed.
Anonymous
11/21/2025 19:48
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Spanish is everywhere. Learn Spanish
Yep. Helpful for so many careers to have some basic skills, at least.
There's a weird stigma of Spanish as being the language of the poor.
Only if you're a racist jerk. The rest of us learn Spanish because 700 mn people speak it in and around the USA, and it's a far easier language than Mandarin and more useful in the USA than French.
Most of the world doesn't care about Spanish. Spanish is important here politically, but not elsewhere.
Mandarin, Russian and Arabic are the key languages the US State Department would like to cultivate.
I think enough people speak Spanish here now that not speaking it feels like a disadvantage. There was some point about 10-15 years ago where it become clear that it is impossible to find a housekeeper that speaks English.
Everyone saying what you just said about "so many people speak Spanish here that not speaking it feels like a disadvantage", none of you have obviously ever been a position to hire someone where speaking Spanish is important beyond hiring your housekeepers. For those of us in jobs where speaking Spanish is important because we serve a largely Spanish-speaking clientele or population, what you seem to not understand at all is most people hiring for jobs where Spanish is important we will choose native speakers over "Americans who learned Spanish in school" folks almost every time if the rest of the qualifications are met as well for the position. And given the GIANT # of native Spanish speakers that live in the US, including those with college and further advanced degrees or training, then finding a native speaker for almost anything is much easier than any other language in the US other than English.
Sure, being a medical professional or businessperson with a big # of Spanish-speaking customers means it is better to hire people who understand at least the basics, so that will give your kids an edge over those who don't speak it at all. But for office jobs or executive jobs or major teaching jobs, native speakers are usually preferred because they are literally fluent and also can read and write fluently and translate industry-speak into Spanish as well where necessary.
In other words... In business or lifestyle situations where speaking Spanish is really really important, the Spanish most kids learn in middle or high schools is not going to be at the level called for by the job. Those starting Spanish in PK3 and taught by native speakers, sure, that will probably be great. But
This is an interesting point I hadn't thought of.
Nope, not really true for two reasons:
1. With the exceptions of some groups like Cubans in Florida, many immigrants from Latin America do not insist their children speak Spanish so as students progress in school they gradually start losing Spanish. It is NOT common for the youngest siblings (particularly if it is a boy) of Latino immigrants to be a fluent Spanish speaker. Kids are at school all day and aftercare speaking English, they go home and speak English to their siblings, and everything they watch on TV/Youtube/ TikTok is in English. I grew up in an immigrant household. I am the only sibling who speaks Spanish fluently. I also am the only sibling who would visit my parents native country in the summers and spent a year abroad studying in Spain. One siblings can understand and speak in Spanish but has to throw in English vocabulary and the baby of the family really doesn't speak or understand Spanish.
2. When getting hired, what is more important is how well you speak English and how competent you are at your job. Then all things being equal if the position calls for being bilingual or it is a benefit to being bilingual then they chose anyone who speaks Spanish. Often people hiring have no idea how much Spanish someone really speaks. I have been amazed that people with Hispanic last names that supervisors think speak Spanish fluently do not really speak Spanish fluently.
Anonymous
11/21/2025 19:01
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Spanish is everywhere. Learn Spanish
Yep. Helpful for so many careers to have some basic skills, at least.
There's a weird stigma of Spanish as being the language of the poor.
Only among ignorant people.
Most folks realize they can use it in dozens of countries for business or leisure. It’s also the language of great literature, music, plays, and films.
In the Republic of Georgia, I spoke Spanish to man who knew Spanish and Georgian (and Russian) who then spoke Georgian to a shopkeeper and I got a free gift as a result.
If someone cares about using the language to read literature, etc., they are going to study French.
Why do you think French is the only great literature worth studying?
Anonymous
11/21/2025 16:52
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Spanish is everywhere. Learn Spanish
Yep. Helpful for so many careers to have some basic skills, at least.
There's a weird stigma of Spanish as being the language of the poor.
Only if you're a racist jerk. The rest of us learn Spanish because 700 mn people speak it in and around the USA, and it's a far easier language than Mandarin and more useful in the USA than French.
Most of the world doesn't care about Spanish. Spanish is important here politically, but not elsewhere.
Mandarin, Russian and Arabic are the key languages the US State Department would like to cultivate.
I think enough people speak Spanish here now that not speaking it feels like a disadvantage. There was some point about 10-15 years ago where it become clear that it is impossible to find a housekeeper that speaks English.
Everyone saying what you just said about "so many people speak Spanish here that not speaking it feels like a disadvantage", none of you have obviously ever been a position to hire someone where speaking Spanish is important beyond hiring your housekeepers. For those of us in jobs where speaking Spanish is important because we serve a largely Spanish-speaking clientele or population, what you seem to not understand at all is most people hiring for jobs where Spanish is important we will choose native speakers over "Americans who learned Spanish in school" folks almost every time if the rest of the qualifications are met as well for the position. And given the GIANT # of native Spanish speakers that live in the US, including those with college and further advanced degrees or training, then finding a native speaker for almost anything is much easier than any other language in the US other than English.
Sure, being a medical professional or businessperson with a big # of Spanish-speaking customers means it is better to hire people who understand at least the basics, so that will give your kids an edge over those who don't speak it at all. But for office jobs or executive jobs or major teaching jobs, native speakers are usually preferred because they are literally fluent and also can read and write fluently and translate industry-speak into Spanish as well where necessary.
In other words... In business or lifestyle situations where speaking Spanish is really really important, the Spanish most kids learn in middle or high schools is not going to be at the level called for by the job. Those starting Spanish in PK3 and taught by native speakers, sure, that will probably be great. But
This is an interesting point I hadn't thought of.
Anonymous
11/21/2025 15:24
Subject: Re:What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
When we moved to DC, our DS was 2 and DD wasn't born yet. When we realized there were so many dual language public schools, we asked ourselves which language would make our kid stand out, and is widely used in the world but not as common to learn in a US school. Mandarin was the obvious choice, but to be clear DS is 20 now and DD is 17, so there were even fewer Mandarin immersion schools then than now. But even now, compared to Spanish and French there are still a small % of Mandarin schools even though the #s keep growing all the time.
So for us, it was a combo of the US relationships with countries that speak the language from a job possibilities POV, and also how common or uncommon it is to meet Americans who speak the language. Mandarin was the obvious choice, but Arabic would have been a close 2nd given how much the Federal gov't and international business love Americans who can speak Arabic fluently or close to it. And read and write.
So for us, it was a combo of the US relationships with countries that speak the language from a job possibilities POV, and also how common or uncommon it is to meet Americans who speak the language. Mandarin was the obvious choice, but Arabic would have been a close 2nd given how much the Federal gov't and international business love Americans who can speak Arabic fluently or close to it. And read and write.
Anonymous
11/21/2025 15:22
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
I would argue French or Italian, since those countries are still centers for haute couture and other luxury goods. That's where super wealthy folks might want to vacation regularly or own real estate, park their yachts etc. French is also pretty useful in Canada, North Africa, Switzerland--if you're a Francophile there are a lot of places where it's nice to be able to speak it.
Anonymous
11/21/2025 15:17
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Anonymous wrote:The true value in learning a foreign language for most US students is that it deepens their understanding of English grammar by forcing them to compare and contrast.
That is so random and not even close to actually true.
Anonymous
11/21/2025 15:16
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Spanish is everywhere. Learn Spanish
Yep. Helpful for so many careers to have some basic skills, at least.
There's a weird stigma of Spanish as being the language of the poor.
Only if you're a racist jerk. The rest of us learn Spanish because 700 mn people speak it in and around the USA, and it's a far easier language than Mandarin and more useful in the USA than French.
Most of the world doesn't care about Spanish. Spanish is important here politically, but not elsewhere.
Mandarin, Russian and Arabic are the key languages the US State Department would like to cultivate.
I think enough people speak Spanish here now that not speaking it feels like a disadvantage. There was some point about 10-15 years ago where it become clear that it is impossible to find a housekeeper that speaks English.
Everyone saying what you just said about "so many people speak Spanish here that not speaking it feels like a disadvantage", none of you have obviously ever been a position to hire someone where speaking Spanish is important beyond hiring your housekeepers. For those of us in jobs where speaking Spanish is important because we serve a largely Spanish-speaking clientele or population, what you seem to not understand at all is most people hiring for jobs where Spanish is important we will choose native speakers over "Americans who learned Spanish in school" folks almost every time if the rest of the qualifications are met as well for the position. And given the GIANT # of native Spanish speakers that live in the US, including those with college and further advanced degrees or training, then finding a native speaker for almost anything is much easier than any other language in the US other than English.
Sure, being a medical professional or businessperson with a big # of Spanish-speaking customers means it is better to hire people who understand at least the basics, so that will give your kids an edge over those who don't speak it at all. But for office jobs or executive jobs or major teaching jobs, native speakers are usually preferred because they are literally fluent and also can read and write fluently and translate industry-speak into Spanish as well where necessary.
In other words... In business or lifestyle situations where speaking Spanish is really really important, the Spanish most kids learn in middle or high schools is not going to be at the level called for by the job. Those starting Spanish in PK3 and taught by native speakers, sure, that will probably be great. But
Anonymous
11/21/2025 14:39
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Anonymous wrote:Speaking English well should be the first priority. That is the international language. And all too often, foreigners are far more articulate, expressive, and concise than Americans.
Being able to hold an intelligent conversation in English gets you far.
Second language should be Mandarin.
I agree with this as table stakes.
A second language actually helps English skills because it forces you to really learn grammar, and issues we don't have/gender/inflections, etc.
Anonymous
11/21/2025 14:02
Subject: Re:What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Spanish
Mandarin
Hindi (Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi...all these are easy after Hindi...)
Telugu
French
Anonymous
11/21/2025 14:00
Subject: Re:What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Spanish
Mandarin
Hindi
Mandarin
Hindi
Anonymous
11/21/2025 13:52
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Well in Europe, they tend to learn native language first, then English starting around age 3-5. Then either Spanish French or German (depending on the region) around age 9-10. Sometimes they add a fourth language option around early HS age.
Anonymous
11/21/2025 13:39
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Anonymous wrote:Knowing a foreign language for any practical purpose is rapidly becoming useless.
The new Airpods come with a foreign language translation feature. It's buggy...but like all technology it will get better and within 5 years it will be really good to excellent.
I believe there are studies that learning a language is great for brain development and makes you smarter in other areas...not sure how reliable they are.
We all benefit from being native English speakers because English is the language of business internationally (both spoken and written).
Learning a language is primarily a key to a different culture and civilization. Your ability to ask for a quote or directions to the post office are the things that Airpods will make irrelevant. Being able to enjoy the music of Pablo Neruda's words in Spanish? Nope, not outsourceable.
Anonymous
11/21/2025 13:04
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Spanish is everywhere. Learn Spanish
Yep. Helpful for so many careers to have some basic skills, at least.
There's a weird stigma of Spanish as being the language of the poor.
Only among ignorant people.
Most folks realize they can use it in dozens of countries for business or leisure. It’s also the language of great literature, music, plays, and films.
In the Republic of Georgia, I spoke Spanish to man who knew Spanish and Georgian (and Russian) who then spoke Georgian to a shopkeeper and I got a free gift as a result.
If someone cares about using the language to read literature, etc., they are going to study French.
Anonymous
11/21/2025 12:06
Subject: What are the foreign language trends among children of elites now? What are some considerations in picking a language.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Latin as preparation for law or med school.
And if you don’t want to do either of those?
It’s still beneficial and helps expand vocabulary, grammar, and analytical skills for English. IMO, Latin is the most useful of all the languages
No it’s not it’s not spoken
So? You will never need to speak another language besides English
Says the dumb American who can only speak American